Methods and apparatus for assessing cardiac risks based on heart activity data obtained during a recovery stage of an exercise test of a specific patient. An embodiment of a method comprises determining a prognostic period of the heart activity data after a time t0 after a peak heart rate of the exercise test, and ascertaining a risk indicator. The risk indicator is based on (a) the heart rate activity data during the recovery stage only after time t0 and (b) a post-exercise heart rate reserve based on a post-exercise resting heart rate. This embodiment of the method further includes providing an assessment of cardiac risk of a specific patient based on the ascertained risk indicator.
